Tim Erixon, once a promising prospect for the Calgary Flames, has hung up his skates. The 35-year-old defenseman made the announcement in a conversation with Sweden's Sundsvalls Tidning, marking the end of a career that saw its fair share of twists and turns.
Erixon's journey in professional hockey concluded with four seasons at Timrå IK in the Swedish Hockey League. Unfortunately, persistent foot injuries cut his final season short, limiting him to just six appearances in 2024-25. With no games played this year and his contract nearing its end, Erixon decided it was time to step away.
Drafted 23rd overall by the Flames in 2009, Erixon never donned the Calgary jersey in the NHL. Instead, he was traded to the New York Rangers, the team where his father, Jan, made his mark. This move came after Erixon declined to sign with Calgary, making him the only first-rounder from Darryl Sutter’s GM era not to play for the Flames.
Reflecting on his career, Erixon shared that a back issue, first flagged when he was just 16, had been a constant challenge. This, coupled with recent foot problems, made his decision to retire all the more inevitable.
Erixon's NHL career kicked off with the Rangers in 2011 after being traded from Calgary for Roman Horak and two second-round picks. However, his time in New York was brief. After just 18 games, he was part of a major trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a deal that sent Rick Nash to the Rangers.
While Erixon spent parts of three seasons with Columbus, he struggled to meet the high expectations set for him. A subsequent trade to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2014 was followed by a waiver claim by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then inclusion in the Phil Kessel trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015.
Erixon's NHL tenure wrapped up with 93 games, tallying two goals and 14 points across four teams. Yet, his return to Sweden proved fruitful, with a standout moment being an SHL championship win with Växjö in 2021.
Erixon's career may not have followed the typical first-round pick trajectory, but his contributions, especially back home in Sweden, left a lasting impact on the ice.